Project Proposal Project title: Improvement for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Analysis in DPRK Implementing Agency: Centre for Biosafety Management Branch of Biotechnology of State Academy of Sciences, DPR Korea, US-DPRK Science Engagement Consortium Project venue: DPR Korea Duration: 3 years (36 months) Budget:

1. Background and justification GMOs(Genetically Modified Organisms) In recent years transgenic techniques have been distributed in developing countries and GMO cultivation area is expected to be continuously increased in relation to the worldwide solution of food shortage. The safety evaluation of GMO has already been discussed with its development. Although the approved transgenic crops were said to be fully inspected, the data in some countries that GMOs contained a potential possibility of danger to human health and ecological environment are giving rise to serious concern on a global scale. But in condition that there is still no consensus to the safety of GMO foods and no one give clear answer to a negative effect in future, the establishment of b iosafety system for GMOs and their products is considered to be a great issue.

During the last period the State Academy of Sciences of DPRK has become a administrative organization of the National Biosafety Framework keeping in close contact with UNEP. And the Centre for Biosafety Management of Branch of Biotechnology, the State Academy of Sciences has become a subordinate executive organ of the National Biosafety Framework with Capacity Building for Compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which can deal with the assessment and management of GMOs. The State Academy of Sciences of DPRK The Centre for Biosafety Management of Branch of Biotechnology

The activity has some barriers to introduce as follows; Very few chance for training in which the advanced technology and experience can be acquired from other countries and lack of technical data. Poor facility environment for analysis which have not overcome false positive and not given reliable results. Lack of instruments and reference materials which can quantify and evaluate the results. The Centre for Biosafety Management of Branch of Biotechnology

2. Project Objectives This project aims at strengthening the national biosafety framework of DPRK by supplementation of material and technical means of biosafety capacity building in Centre for Biosafety management of Branch of Biotechnology, acceleration of its operation ability and improvement of the activity qualification of managing officials and scientists.

3. Outputs - The management officers and scientists with high ability for GMO analysis will be trained. - International books and journals for GMOs management will be provided. - One direction flow laboratory facility to overcome false positive will be built. - Equipments and reference materials for qualitative and quantitative assay will be provided. - Standard local guidelines and protocols will be created.

4. Activities 4.1 Training the officers and scientists with high ability - Participitation of global conference and international symposium and experience exchange - Study tour to well-equipped GMO inspection facilities in other countries. - Promoting the exchange about the techniques and experiences achieved in GMO analysis. - Organizing the abroad training for officers and scientists. 4.2 Purchasing the materials - Selecting and purchasing the suitable books and journals. - Global data on development, production and commercialization of GMOs. - Connection to the global internet database.

4.3 Establishment of the most effective and suitable assay methods and framing up of technical guidelines - Establishment of qualitative and quantitative methods using standard instruments and reference materials. - Development of rapid methods suitable for on-the-spot assay. - Framing up of standard technical guidelines and protocols. 4.4 Building up of GMOs analysis laboratory well equipped. - Making a list of building materials and furnitures necessary for one direction flow laboratory. - Making a list of instruments and regents necessary for qualitative and quantitative assay. - Purchasing and delivery of the issues. 4.5 Project monitoring and evaluation - Selecting the criteria for assessing the project implementation. - Developing the project progress report and final report and their submitting.

5. Expected Budget: 5.1 Global conference and international symposium - The 3rd Global Conference for GMO analysis organized by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission to be held in The 14th International Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms organized by the International Society for Biosafety Research(ISBR) to be held in Study tour and visit - Study tour Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Center, Biological Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. - Study Visit Reference Laboratory for the GMO Identification and DNA fingerprinting, Research Institute of Crop Production, Prague, Czech Republic.

5.3 Training abroad - Short-term training Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR), Hyderabad, India. Biosafety Unit, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park, Padriciano, Trieste, Italy. - Long-term training The Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. European Commission / Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Via E. Fermi 1, Ispra (VA) Italy. 5.4 Books, journals and internet accession - Books(Electric copies) - Speech papers of international conventions and symposiums (Electric copies) - Journals(Electric copies) - Internet database accession

5.5 One direction flow laboratory equipped with necessary instruments - Building materials. Metal and Plastic frames, Glass plates, Air Fresh System - Instruments and devices. A Real-time Thermal Cycler, An ELISA Instrument. A Polyacrylamide Electrophoresis System (Gel Casting Size: 30 x 40 Cm). A Spectrophotometer, An Ultra-freezer (-75 ℃ ). Five Various Specifications of Rotary Crusher. An Eppendroff tube Pulverizer with Liquid Nitrogen. Two Autocleave Venches, Two Thermal Cyclers, Two Vortex Shakers. Two Thermo Shakers, Two Computers(CORE II DUAL 3G/2G/250G/). Five Sets of Pipetman, Two V-F sterbilizers(SVC 10KW). Two UPSs(2 KW), A Thermal Shaker with Eppendroff tube. An Autowasher, Ten Swivel Chairs, Two Multi-purpose Experimental Desks. One hundred bottles for reagent - Various reference materials and reagents